TRC hearing of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela

TRC hearing of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela

statement by Bantu Holomisa and Roelf Meyer

The past two weeks’ hearing before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Ms Winnie Madikizela-Mandela has revealed a number of things ‘that went horribly wrong’ during the time of Ms Madikizela-Mandela’s association with the so-called Mandela United Football Club. Details aside, our country now demands clear reaction from the ANC leadership if it is serious about the aim of the TRC, namely to get to the truth about the past and to continue into a future of reconciliation:

Allegations made against Madikizela-Mandela were done by senior members of the ANC, such as Sydney Mufamadi, Murphy Morobe and Azar Cachalia. The ANC leadership should now emphatically state its position regarding these allegations.

Many of these allegations were already made before the appointment of Ms Madikizela-Mandela as deputy minister in government. Suspicions around these issues were also rife at the time. By appointing her, the ANC leadership has obviously condoned her actions in this regard. During the TRC hearing it appeared as if the ANC now wanted to taint her name by accusing her of these very actions. If the view of the ANC in this regard has since changed, we citizens should know about it, given the public role that Madikizela-Mandela has since played, inter alia as deputy minister.

The UDM bears no candle for Ms Madikizela-Mandela. As the governing party, the ANC, however, will determine to a large extent the success of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The ANC now owes the country a full explanation regarding the above.

The country, and the Commission, demand the truth, not obfuscation or mere silence. They await the ANC’s response.